Christ Legends

ndship for the young people. But for all that she never told them whence she had come, or who sh

on the big, flat rock which lay before the entrance, and partoo

cheerless and stern expression. The brows jutted far out over the deep-set eyes, and the lines aro

sser saw him, he said: "He is an old soldier, one who has

a short distance beyond the hut, laid down his spoon and called out to him: "Have you gone astray, stranger, since you

ken the wrong road, and now I know not whither I shall direct my steps. If you will let me rest here

supper, but this he declined with a smile. On the other hand it was very evident that he was inclined to talk with them, while

ated way we live," said he. "It must be a year at least since I have talked with any one except shepherds and

that the old woman gave him a warning glance, and made wi

Tiberius' reign there has not been much work for us soldiers. Yet he was once a great commander. Those were the days of his good fortune. Now he thinks of nothing ex

he does!" exclaimed the young woman;

of the deepest melancholy crossed his countenance. "Tiberius

e him? We only deplore the fact that he is no longer t

should they do otherwise? He is nothing but a cruel and merciless tyrant. In Rome

ll turn him into a worse beast than he

e old woman gave him a new warning signal,

ly manner, but at the same time a s

alace are fortune-hunters and hypocrites, who praise the Emperor's wicked and cunning acts just as much as his good and admirable ones. But there was, as we have said, one alon

er. "I've been told that the Emperor

n Rome, he let her live in a mansion on the Palatine, that he might always have her near him. None of Rome's noble matrons has fared better than she. She was borne through the streets in a litter

ly fared well,"

me over the old woman. Since the stranger arrived, she had not spoken a word. She had lost her mild and friendly expression. She had

ave a happy life," said the stranger. "But, despi

id, as she turned toward the stranger. "I am sure that she has loved Tiberius as if he had been her own son. I can understand how proud she has been of his noble youth, and I can even understand how it must have grieved her to see hi

ard this; but the young woman did not glance up at him. S

as really not been happy at court. It seems strange, nevertheless, that she has l

he husband. "Has old Fa

edge," said the stranger. "She left just as poor as she

really know where she h

man has taken. Still, one takes it for granted tha

ow, either, why she has gone

money and gifts only, like all the rest. She knows, however, that he has never doubted her unselfishness. He has hoped al

ould have abandoned the Emperor if he had not insulted her. But I understand that, after this, she feels she has the right to think of herself, since her days are numbered. If I were a poor woman of the mountains, I certainly would have acted as

er. Now there is no one who can calm him when suspicion and misanthropy take possession of him. Think of this," he continued, as his melancholy gaze p

young woman looked him straight in the eyes and answered: "Tiberius knows that Faustina will come back to him whe

vine-dresser and his wife placed themselves i

with a questioning glance. Is this your last word also? he seemed to w

nt, then he can also let her live her l

there is one thing which he has learned better than others; and that is-renunciation. I have only one thing more to say to you: If thi

ut him and departed the s